The cloud market continues to evolve, with many moves and developments. And as 2015 hits the halfway mark, here are five tips to brace for the future.

As spring turns to summer and 2015 reaches its halfway mark, the hustle and bustle of the cloud computing market is far from slowing down. With constant acquisitions, slashing prices, developments and more, cloud is engulfed in constant evolution. And that evolution brings the need to understand the latest cloud market trends. From hybrid cloud and containerization to DevOps and vendor selection, IT pros need to constantly hone -- and expand -- their cloud knowledgebase.

So, as the cloud world enters this year's second act, it's important to revisit the most popular expert advice so far in 2015. In 2014, hybrid cloud and data security stole the spotlight, with more enterprises combining public and private cloud services and major security breaches in the headlines. Here are the top five cloud computing tips to add to your summer reading list.

5. Three apps in which Docker containers really shine

Containers have made a comeback in the IT world, and Docker is at the forefront of the movement. Docker packages applications into a single container, which allows enterprises to move them between multiple clouds. And while the open source container technology solves a portability problem and is increasingly popular among cloud providers, it's not right for every application. So, which apps are best suited for Docker containers?

4. Four cloud computing ideas that faded away

With any trend in any market, what's hot one minute is not the next. And the cloud market is no different. As cloud continues its evolution, many seemingly bright ideas can quickly fade into the abyss -- for one reason or another. Linthicum hopped in his DeLorean and reviewed four cloud computing ideas that ended up on the cutting room floor.

The first of the four formerly fantastic cloud ideas is hybrid cloud abstraction, which allows enterprises to dynamically shift workloads between public and private cloud environments. But the re-emergence of containers ultimately rendered hybrid cloud abstraction unnecessary. So, what are the other three cloud ideas and why did they fade away?

3. The evolution of DevOps in the cloud

Since the emergence of cloud, many areas of IT were forced to adapt to the computing environment. DevOps, which combines tasks from application development and systems operations teams, has certainly felt the effects of cloud computing. But those effects go both ways, as DevOps influences many cloud management tools, as well.

There are two common DevOps approaches: script-based and model-based. And while the script-based tools are still common in cloud, Puppet, a model-based tool, and Chef, a procedural-based tool, are battling for DevOps-in-the-cloud supremacy, according to cloud expert Tom Nolle. In addition to analyzing the relationship between cloud and DevOps, Nolle breaks down the key drivers behind the DevOps movement in cloud.

2. How to nail your cloud administrator interview

While cloud computing adds another element to the IT job market, putting yourself in the best position to start a career as a cloud administrator is no picnic. Prospective admins need to stand out in a highly competitive job market. And the first step to distance yourself from the pack is acing your cloud administrator interview.

It's important to highlight past job experience and skills, but what other qualities should interviewees emphasize? To best prepare for the interview process, senior technology editor Stephen J. Bigelow lists five specific questions about the cloud admin position that can help -- from prior cloud management experience to your recommendations to improve cloud performance.

1. Azure vs. Google: Finding your cloud vendor fit

In a growing cloud market, Amazon Web Services is the undisputed leader. However, there are a number of different options, which range from smaller, niche vendors to other major cloud providers. And with so many available cloud providers to choose from, it's vital to find the best fit for your organization. Although AWS reigns supreme, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform give the market's top dog a run for its money.

While cost is always important, there's more to choosing a cloud provider than finding the lowest prices. To help enterprises make an informed cloud provider selection, cloud expert Dan Sullivan compares Google and Microsoft Azure. Each cloud vendor offers an array of services, such as Google's Compute Engine and App Engine, and Microsoft's System Center and Azure Machine Learning. So, which vendor best meets your cloud needs?

Nicholas Rando is assistant site editor for SearchCloudComputing. You can reach him at nrando@techtarget.com.

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